Updated with video clips – see below!
After six weeks of rehabilitation, we received word late last week that Jemison was hunting & killing her own food and flying competently in a 180-foot (55 meter) flight cage. Since she was doing so well, the rehabber and DEC biologists determined that she was ready for release.

So at lunchtime today, members of the Genesee Valley Audubon Society and the Rochester Falconcam met the DEC’s Mike Allen at the Montezuma National Wildlife Refuge, about 45 miles (72 km) east of Rochester. Alert readers may recall that Montezuma was the site of Mariah’s release following her stint in rehab last year.

After picking up refuge Manager Bill Stewart, the group took a short trip along Montezuma’s wildlife drive and found a convenient spot away from highway traffic. Mike and Bill placed Jemison’s wooden carrier on the gravel and the Audubon Society’s June Summers released the lid. Jemison took off right away, flying close by Falconcam member Jim Pisello before climbing high over the wetland.

Jim provided some pictures of the event. You can view them by clicking the picture at the left. Falconcam members Kathy Olney and Carol Phillips took pictures and videos too. Here are a couple of video clips courtesy of Carol Phillips:

Jemison is released from the carrier

Jemison flying

As Carol noted, this was the best outcome we could hope for. Everyone at the release agreed that Jemison was flying well, with no trace of an injury. She gained altitude before soaring away to the north and west. Will she return to Rochester, or strike out for some new destination? We can only wonder where her travels will take her. Wherever it is, we know the good wishes of her many fans will go with her.

It truly is a group effort to make sure that these young peregrines have the best opportunity to lead successful lives. The Rochester Falconcam is grateful for the dedication of Mike Allen, Jenny Landry, Barb Loucks and everyone at the DEC & the rehab staff who took care of Jemison and returned her to flight status. Special thanks also to Dr. Balonek and all the folks at the East Ridge Animal Hospital; Dr. Parsons, Gary and the staff at the Black Creek Wildlife Center as well as the Rochester Animal Control; and Bill Stewart and everyone at the Montezuma Wildlife Refuge. And of course, we want to acknowledge the many volunteers who keep an eye on Jemison and all the Rochester falcons year after year. Your efforts are all appreciated!

As we reported previously reported, Jemison’s recovery has been going very well. She’s been moved to a larger flight cage so that she can exercise her wings in preparation for an eventual release. The rehab specialist taking care of Jemison says that she continues to be feisty and she takes lots of baths in the water bowl provided for her!

We don’t yet know when Jemison will be ready to be released, but we do know that she won’t be released back here in Rochester. The biologists at the DEC have determined that Jemison’s safety could be jeopardized if she’s released in Rochester because so much time has passed since she was injured and taken away. It’s likely that by now Archer and Beauty wouldn’t recognize Jemison if she were returned here. If the adults were to treat her as an intruder she could be re-injured or at least forced out of the territory under unfriendly circumstances. We know everyone was hoping for a different outcome, but releasing Jemison away from Rochester will give her the best chance for safely making it through these next few months, which are crucial to her development into a full-fledged adult. We’re in close contact with the rehabber and the DEC so we’ll make sure to get more information as it becomes available.

Jemison’s release is still some way off though, so in the meantime here are a couple more pictures with those beautiful falcon wings outstretched…

According to the latest from the rehabber taking care of Jemison she is beginning to heal. The broken bone in her shoulder is re-calcifying. Calcium is essential for bone strength so this is very good news. She’s feeding herself, another good sign.

The next stop for Jemison is a two-week stint in a large flight cage where she can exercise her wings. Then more x-rays will be taken to see how things stand.

We’ve heard from the rehabber taking care of Jemison. She’s doing very well, and she’s scheduled for an x-ray tomorrow. The radiograph should give them an idea of how well Jemison’s broken bone has healed. We’ll let you know as soon as we hear the results of the x-ray.

Jemison Gets a Cooling Mist. Picture by Carol Phillips

June Summers, President of the Genesee Valley Audubon Society, and Rochester Falconcam member Carol Phillips paid a visit to Jemison and provided the picture above, along with a report of her progress so far. She continues to be feisty and is eating everything given to her. Jemison also enjoyed the cooling spray of water that you can see in the picture at the left.

All hopes are that her injured shoulder will heal quickly. Her wing continues to return to a normal position, and another rehabber who looked at Jemison couldn’t even detect an injury, so that’s very good news. We’ll be sure to keep you updated as to Jemison’s progress.

The DEC has made arrangements to transport Jemison to the same rehab facility outside of Syracuse, New York, which was so instrumental in nursing Mariah back to health. They have over 30 years’ experience treating falcons and returning them back to the skies. Their facility includes a very large flight cage where Jemison will be able to practice flying.

The Rochester Falconcam wants to extend our sincere and heartfelt thanks to Gary and all the staff at Black Creek Wildlife Center, and especially to Dr. Parsons. Also to Terry and the good folks at Wild Wings for supplying some falcon-appropriate food on short notice. Our gratitude also goes to Dr. Gerald Balonek at the East Ridge Animal Hospital, where Jemison was taken by Rochester Animal Control. Without the selflessness of all involved, Jemison’s outlook could have been much worse.

We’re also grateful to the DEC’s Mike Allen, Jenny Landry, and Barb Loucks for their advice and assistance, and to the Rochester Police Dept. and Rochester Animal Control, both for Jemison’s initial rescue and for letting MAK, our on-scene watcher at the time, know of Jemison’s condition.

And finally, a huge “thank you” to our volunteer fledge watchers, who have spent many hours on the “front lines” keeping an eye on all of the falcons, especially our newest flyers. It is their dedication that helps to ensure positive outcomes for the fledglings in Rochester, and gives them the best opportunity to lead successful lives as masters of the sky.